Effect of delivery method on outcomes in the very low-birth weight breech infant: Is the improved survival related to cesarean section or other perinatal care maneuvers?

The perinatal mortality rate among very low-birth weight infants has been decreased by 20% during the last 4 years of the 1973 to 1980 period here reported. The concurrent increase in the cesarean section rate from 11.9% to 49.1% during the same time frames has been assumed to be responsible for the improved outcome. The changes were most marked in the extremely low-birth weight group (less than 1,000 gm). The survival rates and cesarean …